200 



The Ayliffes of Grittenham. 



using their fields without leave first obtained, and of his neglecting 

 the school. 1 



Before very long he began to find himself in pecuniary difficulties, 

 and his heart yearned towards the broad acres of Grittenham, which, 

 for want of a male heir, were now in the hands of an unmarried 

 lady. The last male owner of the Ayliffe estate, George Ayliffe, 

 Esq., who died in 1712, had married Miss Judith Strangways, of 

 Melbury, Co. Dorset ; and her niece, Susanna Strangways, becoming 

 heiress of Melbury, married Thomas Horner, Esq., of Mella Park, 

 Co. Somerset. Mr. and Mrs. George Ayliffe were both dead before 

 John Ayliffe was born : they left no son, and only one daughter, 

 Judith Ayliffe, who on her parents' death became owner of Gritten- 

 ham, and continued unmarried. It was this lady to whom John 

 considered himself to be heir-at-law, though he must have known 

 very well that, being of an illegitimate stock, his claim had no legal 

 foundation. Miss Judith Ayliffe, however, taking no account of 

 the unfortunate schoolmaster squire of Lyneham, left, at her death, 

 all her estates to her first cousin, Mrs. Horner. That lady, again, 

 had an only daughter and heiress, Elizabeth, who married Stephen 

 Fox, Earl of Ilchester, and Mrs. Horner in her turn, instead of 

 recognizing John Ayliffe, made over the Ayliffe property to Lord 

 Ilchester, younger brother to Henry Fox. 



Mr. Fox, wishing to do something for Ayliffe, obtained for him 



1 Among some old letters of the Jacob family is one written by Mr. Walker, of 

 Lyneham, to Mr. Goddard Smith (uncle and guardian of young Mr. Jacob, of 

 Tockenbam), complaining of the poaching going on upon his lands : — 



" 1742. Dee. 10. I've been out five hours today and have seen but one hare. We daily find 

 wires in the copses. I've had one watched for two nights without success. It was at last taken 

 away by a fine picked-toed shoe very like a Bean Schoolmaster's. Indeed he is a sad fellow : his 

 neglecting the school is so great an abuse of Charity I've resolved on my return to apply to Chan- 

 cery, His confederates are West and Romin. Unless we break the knot, you must hunt nothing 

 but red herrings It is quite shocking at Bath to see at the poulterers at least twenty brace of hares 

 daily, partridges and pheasants without number." 



Mr. Goddard Smith, in reply, tries to appease the old gentleman's indignation : 

 and continues : — 



u As to the other " (the Beau schoolmaster) • I can say very little to it. I know he has been talked 

 of, but I never had any reason from myself to think him guilty. I have often advised him and he 

 has as often protested his innocence, but that is no argument of it. To be sure he has been a fool in 

 other things and may be in this. I had a value for his fattier and mother and employ him in my 

 own and my nephew's affairs, because I can't well do without him but have often told him, upon 

 the first discovery I have done with him." 



